Satan does not want you to go to hell!

When Jesus told his disciples that he will suffer, be rejected, and be killed in Jerusalem, Peter took him aside and rebuked him.

Jesus in turn, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan!"

Most of us grew up with this idea that Satan is a hideous monster, with a tail, horns, and a pitchfork. Many among us actually believe that Satan is God's equal. We blame him for every single thing that goes bad or wrong in our lives, and thank God for the opposite. Like God and Satan are playing chess and we're chess pieces on the board we call life.

In the lectionary reading from Mark 8, Jesus calls Peter, Satan.

Peter is probably Jesus's most loyal disciple. Peter is probably Jesus's closest friend. Peter's home was Jesus's home away from Nazareth. Peter probably loved Jesus more than the other disciples.

Thus, he did not want him to suffer, to be rejected, and to be killed. Peter thought Jesus was making a big mistake going to Jerusalem.

Every day people decide to follow Jesus, to follow the path dedicated to others, to fight against tyranny, to work for peace based on justice, to proclaim good news to the poor and liberation to the oppressed.

And every day, people who love, people who care, people who do not want their beloved to suffer, to be rejected, or to die, do as Peter did. Rebuke their loved ones because they think they're making a big mistake.

Like Peter, they become Satan.